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Central Kagawa (Inland)Kotohira Town Public Hall

Exterior

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Interior

The Kotohira-cho Public Hall, constructed in 1934, is built in the traditional Japanese architectural style of irimoya, a style common in many East Asian countries. This style features a roof that slopes down on all four sides with a gable that is integrated on two opposing sides. It is usually constructed with two large sloping roof sections in the front and back respectively, while each of the two sides is normally constructed with a smaller roof section. This style is still in wide use in Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japan, and also in palaces, castles, and residential dwellings. In the case of dwellings for common people, as in this case, the style is called moya-zukuri.

The earliest examples of this style can be found in Jomon-period architecture (approx. 14,000–300 BCE), and it is employed in many of the famous buildings of Japan. The gables that stretch out over the sides of the building are the most recognizable feature of this architectural style.

The Kotohira-cho Public Hall is a wooden structure, featuring a massive gabled roof with shingles, an entryway wing for VIPs, and a main wing with Japanese-style rooms. The beautiful wood-shingled roof has an ancient history in Japan dating back to the seventh century. The hall includes a large theater space that can accommodate three hundred guests. Concerts and other community events are held on a regular basis here and in the garden, where one can also enjoy the changing scenery of the four seasons.

Access

15-minute walk from Kotoden-Kotohira Station

Operating Hours

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Closed

Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; December 29 to January 3

Fees

Closed to the public